How to Clean Your TV Screen
In the modern world, televisions have become much more than simple entertainment sources – they are the centrepieces of homes around the world and provide a welcoming place to gather with friends and family. However, with daily use, TV screens now find themselves at the mercy of dust, fingerprints, and other unwanted marks. Not only is this unsightly, but it can also negatively impact the quality of your viewing experience. Therefore, it's important to clean the screen regularly to avoid this and maximise the lifespan of your TV.
In this post, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide to cleaning your TV screen to ensure your unit remains in the best condition possible. However, it should be noted here that television manufacturers often have specific guidelines on how to clean their products. Therefore, if you’re searching online for the best way to clean a TV screen, before you follow these tips, make sure you adhere to their rules. Otherwise, you could cause permanent damage and void your warranty.
Why Is It Important to Clean Your TV Screen?
There are a couple of reasons why you should clean your TV screen regularly. Firstly, unsightly smudges and dust build-up on a TV screen certainly aren’t going to enhance your viewing experience, and that’s the point of owning a wonderful modern unit. However, beyond that, dirt and grime can cause damage by trapping heat and impacting your TV's performance. Therefore, to get the best picture quality possible and extend the life of your TV, it’s worth cleaning it from time to time.
How Often Should You Clean Your TV Screen?
Cleaning your TV screen isn’t something you need to do every day. However, it also shouldn’t be something you only do once per year either. Everyone will deal with this differently, but a good starting point is to clean your TV screen once per week. That way, you’ll tend to avoid any major build-ups of grime.
How to Clean Your TV Screen
The following guide is appropriate for the likes of LCD, LED, OLED, and Plasma TVs:
Preparation
Before you get started with the cleaning process, it’s important to make sure you have the required items to get the job done. This includes a microfibre cloth, which is useful because they are gentle on the screen and are great at removing dust. You’ll also need a screen-friendly cleaner, which is designed to effectively remove dirt and won’t leave unsightly streaks.
Safety
When cleaning electrical equipment, it’s important to make sure you do it safely. Therefore, you should turn your TV off before you start cleaning. The main reason for this is that moisture and electrical appliances are not a good match. However, you’ll also get a better view of the screen this way, which will help you to ensure you’ve removed all the dirt.
Dry Dusting
Start the clean by dusting the TV screen with a dry microfibre cloth. By doing this, you’ll get rid of any dust and other dry dirt. This is important because these particles can cause scratches if you inadvertently rub them in with a wet cleaning product.
Applying a Cleaner
One of the most important things to remember when cleaning a TV screen is that you must use an appropriate cleaning product. These days, there are lots of screen-friendly cleaners available and they will contain instructions about which screens they can be used on.
However, it is important to remember that you must apply the screen cleaner to a microfibre cloth and not directly onto the TV screen. So, apply a small amount to your microfibre cloth and then gently wipe the screen from top to bottom. Make sure you clean the entire screen.
Targeting Stubborn Spots
Sometimes, you’ll find small areas of stubborn dirt that won’t be removed during the previous step. Don’t worry. All you need to do is apply a little bit more cleaning product to your microfibre cloth and then gently wipe the affected area using circular motions. However, it is important not to apply excessive pressure to the screen during this step. Take your time and the dirt will be safely removed.
Drying Process
Before you turn your TV back on, you should let the screen air dry for a while. This will make sure that any residual moisture evaporates, which will help to prevent any potential damage. Once the screen is completely dry, you can turn your TV back on.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The above guide will help you to maintain your TV screen correctly. However, there are a few common mistakes to avoid:
- Do not ignore manufacturer instructions, as this can cause damage and void your warranty.
- Do not apply too much pressure when cleaning, as this can damage your screen.
- Do not use cleaning products that are not designed for TV screens.
- Do not use too much cleaning product.
- Do not spray the cleaning product directly onto the screen.
